Text messages and mailers purporting to be from LGBTQ+ organizations were sent to Texans in the week before early voting began in the 2026 midterms. The organizations said they did not create, authorize, or send the communications. The sender's identity remains unknown.
Where
Statewide
When
Week before early voting began in 2026 midterms; TENT statement issued Oct. 13, 2026
Sources
One outlet
Taxes and money
None stated in sources.
Who's involved
Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT)LGBTQ+ youth advocacy group whose name and content were used in unauthorized texts and mailers
Mimi MarzianiAustin attorney representing TENT
Garrett FulceRepublican political consultant
InfobipTelecommunications company that registered phone numbers used for texts
Alex QuiliciCEO of Dallas-based robocall blocking service YouMail
The facts
Text messages with 432 area codes directed recipients to TENT webpages about trans school guides and gender-affirming care.1
TENT stated Oct. 13 the texts were not authored, authorized, approved, or distributed by the organization.1
Mailers addressed to students across Texas purported to be guides for transgender, nonbinary and questioning youth.1
Four LGBTQ+ organizations told The Texas Newsroom they were not involved in creating, funding or authorizing the mailer.1
TENT asked a judge in Travis County to compel the senders to share information about the messages.1
Phone numbers were registered to Peerless Network, a telecommunications provider based in Chicago, and its parent company Infobip.1
An attorney for TENT sent a cease and desist letter to Infobip on Oct. 14.1
Infobip said it would not specify what precautionary measures it took or divulge the customer's identity.1
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
Political consultants, attorneys and civil rights advocates Communications were part of an effort to foment anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment or dampen Democratic enthusiasm.1
Mimi Marziani Somebody spent money to smear TENT and create confusion and division among Texas electorate during early voting.1
Garrett Fulce Political goals sometimes include preventing opponent supporters from wanting to vote.1
These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.
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